Tyler Anderson, Angels dominate Cubs

Tyler Anderson threw eight scoreless innings and tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts as the Los Angeles Angels snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-0 victory over the host Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon.

Anderson (8-8) did not walk a batter and allowed just three hits — all singles — while not allowing a Cubs baserunner to get as far as second base. He made 98 pitches but was not given the opportunity to throw his first career shutout. Angels manager Ron Washington opted for Ben Joyce to pitch the ninth.

Joyce gave up a single to Nico Hoerner but finished the shutout, striking out two in the inning. That included a strikeout of Cody Bellinger on a 103.1 mph fastball.

The Angels offense provided more than effort support for Anderson, getting at least one hit from everyone in the starting lineup, and 12 hits in all. Jo Adell hit his 14th homer of the season out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup, tying Taylor Ward for the team lead.

Nolan Schanuel, Keston Hiura and Logan O’Hoppe each had two hits for the Angels, and Zach Neto had two stolen bases. It was a complete turnaround for the Angels offense, which scored only one run total over the previous three games.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (1-7) wasn’t long for the game, having to come out after two innings because of lower back tightness. The Angels got to him immediately, loading the bases with no outs in the top of the first inning.

They scored one run when O’Hoppe was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded but didn’t score again in the inning thanks to Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki.

With the bases loaded and one out, Mickey Moniak hit a liner to right field. Suzuki made the catch and threw out Hiura trying to score from third for an inning-ending double play.

The Angels, though, continued to put pressure on the Cubs bullpen in the ensuing innings. Hiura had an RBI single in the second inning, and both O’Hoppe and Neto had RBI singles in the third. Adell hit a solo homer in the fifth.

Anderson, meanwhile, was sharp throughout, retiring 13 consecutive batters during one stretch and setting down the side in order in the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

–Field Level Media